Murrieta’s amazing math masterminds

For the last three consecutive years, Murrieta schools have won first place in a national, online “American Math Challenge” competition. Yes, as in -- No. 1 across America for three years running.

The competition asks students to complete a minimum of 1,500 grade-equivalent math questions correctly in 12 hours, and then on Day 2 a variety of math questions in real-time races against others.

The first two years, Rail Ranch Elementary earned top billing in the competition, and most recently Shivela Middle School placed first. What’s more, this academic year’s round of competition had Murrieta’s Antelope Hills Elementary place second and Rail Ranch Elementary seventh nationally.

Not bad, you might say -- but that’s just America. How would these kids compete on a global level? Well, I can tell you that, too. Pretty darn well.

Last week, Murrieta students squared off in the online World Education Games, which pits more than 2 million kids in 300 countries against each other in a variety of subjects.

At Shivela Middle School, where about 100 students competed on various teams, one team placed third and another placed 18th in science, and another came in at 28th in math -- in the world.

At Antelope Hills Elementary, where more than 300 students competed in second through fifth grade: two teams placed among the Top 15 in science, four teams placed within the Top 30 in math, and two teams ranked among the Top 25 in literacy.

At Rail Ranch, two teams ranked among the Top 50 in math, again -- on a global scale.

“The kids get so excited when they are racing one kid from Malaysia, one kid from Nigeria, one kid from England -- all at the same time,” said Shivela Middle School math and science teacher Jack Mitchell. “It’s so amazing watching them learn their geography. They want to beat someone sitting on the other side of the world.”

Teachers who help lead these efforts praised the students for their hard work and dedication.

To prepare for the contests, the students take on hours of extra homework. During the 12-hour national math competition, students take over the school’s computer labs and answer questions nonstop in a math marathon of sorts.

“The kids work for about 12 hours to get to that perfect or maximum score, it’s just grueling,” said Mitchell, who led the two Rail Ranch Elementary teams and this year’s Shivela team to first place.

“The incredible thing about this competition is you have, between three schools, hundreds of kids committed to math,” Mitchell said. “They have to practice before on these things, teach themselves at home for weeks prior to the contest, learn the entire year’s curriculum.”

The impressive results are due to a joint effort, Mitchell emphasized.

“We had some very committed kids, committed parents who allow for computer time at home, and teachers that support it,” he said.

It’s a win-win, because it makes studying fun, it gives kids motivation to learn – and it pays off down the road on standardized tests, Mitchell said, noting his students’ scores are well above average.

“These kids have grown so much in their self-confidence, in their math skills, as competitors,” Mitchell said. “It’s been so amazing."